Combined guard and tension attachment for marking-machines and the like.



C. C. MITCHELL.

COMBINED GUARD AND TENSION ATTACHMENT FOR MARKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28.19I4.

Patented June 5, 1917.

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fidztizeasas C. C. MHCHELL.

COMBINED GUARD AND TENSION ATTACHMENT FOR MARKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1914.

1 ,Q28,946. Patented June 5, 191.7.

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A if 1''? 4/ L m a 3 UNITED STATES PATENT ornroa.

CLARENCE C. MITCHELL,OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NA-TIONVALz-MARKING MACHINE COI-TPANY, OF'CINCINNATI, -OHIO.

COMBINED GUARD AND TENSION ATTACHMENT FOR'MARKING-MACI-IINES THE LIKE.

. Specification ofLetters Patent. PatentedJ 111161 5, 191 '7.

Application filed September 28, 1914:. Serial No. 863,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCEC. MITCH- ELL, a citizen. of the United States, ,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State offOhio, have invented anew and useful Combined Guard and Tension Attachment for Marking-Machines and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my inventionis to provide a guard and tension device for marking machines or other machines, intermittently moving work toward fixed point so constructed and arranged that where the material being worked upon is .of a flexible nature, it will be given proper tension before being struck by the type or other working part of the machine, and also so constructed and arranged as to furnish a suitable guard in all positions of the machine for protects ing the fingers of the operator.

My invention is especiallyadapted for use in connection with laundry marking machines in which. there isa printing platen and a set of type, which inone position are somewhat widely separated so that laundry articles to be marked may be placed between them, .and in which one of said elements moves toward the other for the purpose of effecting a printing operation on the material to be marked.

In such machines, and especially where the movable element is operated by power, there is an element of danger to the fingers of the operator in case they should beinadvertently placed between the said elements.

Furthermore, in machines of this kind it is sometimes desirable to employ a tension device for the purpose of stretching the material to be marked across the platen so that y the printing will be made upon a part of the material in which, there are no wrinkles, with the object of producing even and regular printing upon garments that may have been wrinkled or folded.

The object of my invention is to provide a safety device for machines of this class, so arranged that the operator may not only readily and easily place the articles to be marked in position between the type and the platen, but may have an unobstructed View of the article, and after it has been placed between the platen and type so that he may accurately determine the exact spot on the article to be marked where, the print- .serted, but also serves as guide to aid the operator in placing the articles to be marked in proper position to be printed upon.

A further object is to provide a tension device to cooperate with the printing platen, whereby just before the printing is, effected the material to be printed upon resting upon the platen is tightly stretched across the platen to present ,a printing surface free from wrinkles or folds.

Still a further object is to provide such a tensiondevice having a graduated gage thereon for accurately placing the work.

In connection with this tension device it is a further object of my invention to provide a guard mechanism which serves the double function of protecting the operators fingers and hands and also operating the said tension device at the proper time.

Further in connection with this tension device it is my object to provide finger guards below the platen, arranged to be supported by and movable with the said tension device for convenience and facility in operation, and for the purpose of providing a cheap and inexpensive construction.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction,v combination and arrangement of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a guard and tension device, embodying my invention, the dotted lines showing parts of the machine in their lowered position.

Fig. 2 shows a vertical, sectional view,

Fig. 3' shows a detail, sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, one of the guard devices being removed.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of one of the guard devices.

Fig. 5 shows a top or plan view' of the tension plate.

For convenience 1n understanding myim-" 1 proved guard and safety device, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings parts of a laundry marking machine of which the reference numeral 10 indicates the standard or support, 11 a'main supporting plate on the standard, and 12 upright brackets above the plate 11.

Supported upon the brackets 12 is a shaft 12 on which is pivoted the tilting head 13. This tilting head may be operated either by power applied thereto in'any ordinary way, or it may be operated by hand. Mounted on its forward portion is a'series of type wheels I 1 1, having type thereon, and on top of 13 mounted on said shaft.

, 15 on the plate 11.

15 is the'platen proper 22, being of proper the tilting head is a series of keys 13*. The mechanism by which the depression of these keys 13 will set the proper type 25 to printing position is not herein illustrated or described, as in itself it forms no part of my present invention.

The type wheels 14: are mounted upon a shaft 26, suitably supported in a tilting head the series of type wheels is a plate 27. Formed on the plates 27 are lugs 36, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Assuming, however, that'the proper types are set to printing position, then obviously a tilting movement of this head 13 in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1

will bring the selected type to printing position. I e

The platen feature of the laundry marking machine preferably comprises a support On top of this support size and shape and so positioned as to coact with the selected type of the type wheels. I preferably mount this platen 22 so that it will have a limited yielding up and down movement.

ment may be provided is illustrated in the accompanylng drawings in F1g. 3 thereof,

and consists of the recesses 16 in the top of i the support 15, and vertical bores 17 extend- At each end of One way in which this move-,

ing through said slots and seated in the plate 11, asshown in Fig. 3.

It is to be understood in this connection that any other platen capable of accomplishing the same result may be substituted for the one herein illustrated and described, as the particular construction of the platen itself forms no part of my present invention.

My improved tension device comprises essentially two arms 28, pivotally supported at their rear ends and extended forwardly. Between the forward ends of these arms is a tension plate 33, having a slot 3ittherein slightly larger than the platen 22 and so arranged that the tension plate 33 may move downwardly to position where the platen 22 will project upwardly through said slot. At the ends of this tension plate are the raised shoulders 35, for purposes hereinafter made clear.

In use means are provided as will hereinafter appear, for normally holding the tension plate above the platen so that material to be printed upon may be readily and easily inserted between the tension plate and the platen. Means are also provided, as will hereinafter appear, for forcing the tension plate downwardly after the material is inserted, so that the portion of the material that is to be printed on becomes tightly stretched across the top of the platen, thus avoiding all wrinkles or folds in said material at the printing point.

My improved safety device comprises two separate elements, one covering the space.

In connection with the upper guard device, I have provided means whereby it may serve not only as a guard, but as a tension device operating means, and in connection with the lower guard device I have so arranged it that it will not only serve as a guard, but as a guide device for guiding material to the printing point.

The plate 33 is provided with graduation or location lines 33 and the shoulders 35 are provided with similar lines 33, whereby the work may be accurately placed on the plate 23, when for instance, it is desired to re-mark an article, the mark on which has become dull.

The upper guard device comprises a rectangular frame 38, preferably having vertical wires or rods 39 extendedacross its open central portion so that it will serve the purpose of preventing an operators fingers from entering between the type wheels and the tension device, but will in no way obstruct the operators view of the tension vided at its lower ends with the lugs 4L0, which are pivotally supportedon the tension plate, and it is provided at its upper end with a lug la pivotally connected to a rod 4:3, which rod is pivoted on a shaft 26 centered at the type wheels 14.

In this connection means are provided whereby the pivoted arm 43 is limited in its rearward movement, so that the pivotal point between it and the frame 38 cannot pass rear-wardly far enough to touch a line drawn through the pivotal point of the frame 38 on the tension plate, and the pivotal point of the rod 43 on the shaft 26, so

that when thistilting head 13 starts to move outwardly, the rod 43 and the upper end of the frame 38 will fold forwardly as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. One way of limiting this rearward movement is by the provision of a lug 26 on the tilting head 13, as shown in Fig. 1, to engage the rod 43.

By the construction just described it is obvious that when the type wheels are in their elevated position as shown by the lines in Fig. 1, the space between them and the tension plate is closed from in front by this frame 38 and its wires 39, but the view of the operator is not at all obstructed thereby. This is of great importance in a machine of this kind, because it is very essential in connection with some kinds of laundry work that the mark to be printed be very accurately located, as, for instance, on the hem of a handkerchief or-other delicate or small article, and if the guard device interfered with the view of the operator it would be highly objectionable.

By the construction described it is obvious that when'the tilting head 13 moves to its elevated position, the rod 43 and the frame 38 will carry up with it the tension plate, so that the article to be marked may be in serted between the tension plate and the platen only at the time when the tilting head is in its elevated position, for obviously, if the tilting headshould be just a trifle below the position shown in Fig. 1, thenthe tension plate would drop to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and thus effectively prevent the operator from placing anything between the platen and the tension plate thus preventing any possibility of placing an article in position during the time after the tilting head had started to move downwardly, as obviously nothing can be placed in a position to be printed upon except when the tilting head is at its upper limit of movement.

In connection with the lower guard clevioe it is obvious that it serves the double function of being a guide as well as a guard, for it comprises the arms 30 permanently fixed to the arms 28, which arms 30 extend forwardly past the sides of the platen and its supporting means, and may be connected,

at these forward ends by a connecting guard and guide device 31 extending across in front of the platen. The space between the tension plate and the guard arms 30 is indicated in Fig. 1 by the numeral 29, and is so small that while it will admit the heaviest garments to be printed upon, it will not permit an operator to place a finger therein between the tension device and the lower guard. It will be also obvious that after the tension plate has dropped to position as shown in dottedlines in Fig. l, a further downward movement of the tilting head will cause the lug 36 to engage the shoulders 35 of the said tension plate and thereby cause the tension plate to hold the article to be marked securely in position.

The forward guard member 31 and the side guards 30 are preferably curved outwardly and downwardly away from the platen to serve as guides, and the slots 29 also serve as guides for the material being inserted between the tension device and the lower guard member.

Among the advantages of my improve ment are, that the upper guard device protects the space between the type wheels and the tension plate without in any way obstructing the operators vision. The upper guard device also serves as a means for controlling the movement of the tension plate,

' trance of fingers. It also serves as a guide for the material to be printed upon.

To this extent it 'is obvious that the tension plate of itself performs the double function of providing tension on the articles to be marked at the printing point, and also cooperating with both the upper guard device and the lower guard device in preventing the operator from placing his fingers between the type and the platen in all the various positions of the movement of said parts.

One of the advantages of providing an upper guard that is capable of the movement herein set forth, is that when in the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 1, it enables the operator to get his fingers close to the printing point at the time material is being inserted to be printedupon. That is to say, the guard device is located directly between the type wheels and the platen.

member is so operated that its upper end tilts forwardly and outwardly, thus getting out of the way of the type wheels.

Therefore a very compact and simple structure is provided, which does not at all interfere with the operator in his work, but

7 at the same time protects him from injury.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. The combination with a platen device and a type device, one being capable of movement toward the other, of a guardeX- tended between said devices, said guard being constructed to permit an operator to view the space therebetween and to prevent the operator from inserting his hand therein and means for automatically moving said guard to position Where it will not interfere with the movement of one of said devices toward the other. I

2. The combination with a platen device and a type device, one being capable of movement toward the other, of a guard plate normally extended across the space between the type and platen when they are separated, in position to prevent an operators hand from entering said space, and means for automatically moving said guard when the type and platen approach, so that the guard will not interfere with said movement.

3. The combination with aplatendevice and a type device, one being capable of movement toward the other, and a guard plate normally extended across the space between the platen and type and moved by the said movable member when it approaches the other, to position where it will not interfere with said movement of the movable member.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platen, and type holding means, one part being capable of movement toward the other, with a guard device arranged at each side of the platen having a space to admit work to the platen and to serve as a guide for said work.

5. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a platen, and type holding means, one part being capable of movement toward the other, with a movable guard device arranged at each side of the platen having a space to admit work to the platen and to serve as a guide for said work, said guard devices being so operatively connected with said platen and said type holding means that when said last two parts are separated the guard devices are in proper position to admit work to the platen.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platen, and type holding means, one part being capable of movement toward the other, with a movable guard device arranged at each side of the platen having a space to admit work to the platen and to serve as a guide for said work, and a combined guard and guide member between said guard devices in front of said platen.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platen, and type holding means, one partbeing capable of movement toward the other, with a movable guard device arranged at each side of the platen having a space to admit work to the platen and to serve as a guide for said work, and a combined guard and guide member between said guard devices in front of said platen, said guard devices being so operatively connected with said platen and said type holding means that vwhen said. last two parts are separated the guard devices are in proper position to admit work to the platen.

8. In a machine of the class described the combination of'a platen and type holding means, one being capable of movement toward the other, with a movable guard device at each side of said platen, having a space to admit work to the platen, a movableguard member operatively connected with said guard devices and adapted when the platen and type holding means are separated, to support said guard devices in position to admit work to the platen.

9. In a machine of the class described the combination of a platen and type holda space to admit work to the platen, a movable guard member operatively connected with said guard devices and adapted w hen the platen and type holding means are separated, to support said guard devices in position to admit work to the platen, said guard member beingso constructed and arranged that when said platen and type holding means are separated said member protects the space between them, and when they are moved together the guard member stands in front of and above their meeting point.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platen and type holding means, one being capable of movement toward the other, with a movable guard device at each side of said platen, having a space to admit work to the platen, a movable guard member operatively connected with said guard devices and adapted when the platen and type holding means are separated, to support said guard devices in position to admit work to the platen, said guard member being so mounted, constructed and arranged that it does not in any position interfere with the operators view of work placed over the platen.

11. In a machine of the class described the combination of a platen and type hold ing means, one being capable of movement toward the other, with a movable guard device at each side of said platen, having a space to admit work to the platen, a movable guard member operatively connected with said guard devices and adapted when the platen and type holding means are sep arated, to support said guard devices in position to admit work to the platen, and a movable tension plate having a slot and adapted to be moved to position with the platen received in the slot, when the platen and type holding means are brought together.

12. In a machine of the class described the combination of a platen and type holding means, one being capable of movement toward the other, with a movable guard device at each side of said platen, having a space to admit work to the platen, a movable guard member operatively connected with said guard devices and adapted when the platen and type holding means are separated, to support said guard devices in position to admit work to the platen, and a movable tension plate having a slot and adapted to be moved to position with the platen received in the slot, when the platen and type holding means are brought together, said tension plate being provided with suitable indicating marks for accurately placing the work thereon.

Des Moines, Iowa, September 10, 1914.

CLARENCE C. ,MITGHELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

